Asbestos-Truth

Asbestos was first used in the 1800's but it was not until the Second World War that it's use became mainstream in industry. Laws on how asbestos could be used were introduced in the US during the 70's that restricted how asbestos was used by industry.

The EPA felt that more control was required over the use of asbestos in the 1980's as it issued it's own laws controlling how and where asbestos was used by industry. Most people today in the 21's century are aware of how harmful asbestos is to them if they are exposed to it and breath in the fibres. The message that asbestos is dangerous has been instilled in most people and they are aware that they should not inhale asbestos fibres.

Asbestos occurs naturally as a mineral that is mined and processed into asbestos. Asbestos looked like the wonder product for industry because of its heat and chemical resistance. Asbestos with it's wonder characteristics caused it's use in many manufacturing and industrial uses.

Asbestos was used to make joint compound, gaskets and various fire proofing aids. Asbestos can be found in many buildings constructed up until the 1980's as a fire suppressant as well as in use in adhesives. As long as the fibers are encased and contained, with little chance of exposure under normal conditions, all of these uses are legal.

Exposure to asbestos is serious; the health risks associated with asbestos are high because some of the illnesses caused by asbestos are incurable. Lung damage caused by breathing in asbestos fibres is called asbestosis; it causes permanent lung damage resulting in a shortness of breath.

A less commonly known ailment of asbestos is mesothelioma; it is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos that effect the major organs of the body. The two most common forms are pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining around the lungs, and pericardial mesothelioma, which affects the lining around the heart.

Asbestos became more widespread during the industrial revolution; in the 1860s it was used as insulation in the U.S. and Canada, this is long before the modern world recognised the hazards of asbestos. The first documented death related to asbestos was in 1906; in the early 1900s researchers began to notice a large number of early deaths and lung problems in asbestos mining towns.

Asbestos has been in a marked decline as soon as victims of asbestos exposure began to take legal action for compensation. Follow the right safety guidelines and it is legal for manufacturers to use asbestos.

The author of this web articles has written many other articles about asbestos. If you are interested you can find links to some of their other work below.